Improvement in bee-hives



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Letters .Patent N. 100,015, dated February 22, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and' making part of the same.

Be it known that I, H. B. COOPER, of Memphis, in the count-y ot Shelby, and -State of Tennessee, have invented a new and usei'ul Bee-Hive for the better preservation ofthe bees from the ravages of moths, and the more convenient renewing of the comb after it has become old and damaged; and I do herebydeciare that the following is a full, clear, and exact de-A scription of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference heilig had to the annexed drawings making a part oi this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective elevation.

Figure 2, Van elevation ot' rear of hive.

Figure 3, plan with top cover removed, showing position oi'honey-boxes ami honey-trames.

Figure 4, lateral section, showing position of honey- `boxes and trames.

Figure 5, transverse section, showing position of honey-box audiiames.

Figure 6, plan of bottom of hive, showing position of tin ventilators.

Figs. 3 and 4 also show the position of movable tin separator.

My invention consists of an ordinary rectangular box-hive, twenty-four inches in length, fifteen anda halt'inches deep, and twelve and a half inches wide.

'The bottom is perforated with two holes four by eight inches eat-h, tig. 6, 1 I, for the insertion ot' perlfor-ated tin ventilators.

A square hole is cut in center of top ot' hive, twelve h v twelve aml a halt" inches in size, for the insertioii oi' honey-trames, fig. 3, 'O O O, and lor theaccoiumodation of honey-boxes, tig. 4, N N, which are placed transversely across the hive over this opening, and covered with a square box-cap, fig. 1, B A B.

In rear oi' hire is inserted a door, lig. 2, V V, six find a halt inrhes' from bottom plate, iig. 2, H, and twenty-tour h v six inches in size.

In iront of hive is another door, fig, 1, G, eight by tru im hes, periuated underneath lower edge, with an entrance for bees, iig'. l, K. Behind this door, and one-halll inch lioni same, is a partition deban-ing so large an entrance to hire as atiorded by door, and periorated hy two holes, iig. 1, L L, Atwo by threeeighths inches in size, and one inch cach right and leit of center ci hive, and sixinches above entrance underneath door. By opening this door, the miller eggs, worms, 86e., may be seen and removed.

suspended transversely across interior ot' hive, by means of light stripping attached to sides of same, are honey-trames, the position and coustrnctionot' which axe shown in ii'gs. 3, 4, and 5, letters 0 (L) O.

Suspended transversely across upper part of hives interior are two partitions, iig. 4, 'l T, cutting oil two -recesses, tig. 4, U U, through which can be suspended additional honey-framesinto the space below, and into which can be slid additional Ahoney-boxes by means of the exterior door V V, asl shown intig. 2. I

A narrow groove is sawed into tlie center of sides, front and rear, tig. 3, E E, and iiom top to bottom of hive, to admit a tin-plate called a separator, lig. 4, 'P.

The honey-flame, tig. 5, O 0 O O is that connnonly usedinv hives, and is constructed oi' i'our pieces of inch stripping; three ot' them, the lower pieces, one-quarter inch thick, aud the top piece one inch thick and trif angular in form. They should be suspended one-halt inch apart in hive, and he three-eighths inch from the iiont and rear sides E E in tigs. 3 and 5, and one-halt' inch from bottom plate H H, lig. 4.

Inside, of door V V, fie. 2, and extending between the partitions l T, is a glass door, Qyiigs. 2 andr, six hy twelve inches in size.

The uses of the several vparts ot my invention are the following, to wit: f

First. 'it is rendered moth-prooi` by means ot' the double entrances, iig. 1, K and L L, for the mot-hs entering bythe door K will immediately deposit'their eggs in the interstice between the door G and the interior partition W, it being the habit of the insect to lay their eggs after entering hive around tbe corners at bottom ots-aine, and they will in no instance crawl up to entrances L L and so obtain an exit-rance to` the h ive.

Secondly. By sliding the tin separator P, figs. 3 and 4, vdown through center ot hive, a part ot' the bees on either side cut oli from their queen will immediately abandon their work, and, making their exit lthrough the-doors L L, tig. l, or the openings for the ventilators I I, tig. 6, which must be removed at suoli times, rejoin their queen on the opposite side of' the separator, th'us leavingthe comb free from becs, which the operator can remove, together with the hJncyboxes, without resorting to smoke or other cruel methods ot' driving bees.

kWhat l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the lower outer opening in the door and the upper entrancein the side or partition, as and for the purpose set forth.

H. B. COOPER.

Witnesses:

J. PRESTON YOUNG, JNo. H. FISHER. 

